Video game withdrawal

My ONLY salvation through this terrible time in my life - Music from Video Games!

So obviously I didn't post last week. This is because I had nothing to post about (and I had no way to get to a computer)! The reason I haven't had anything to post about is because of the fact that I HAVE NOTHING TO PLAY! I am currently in withdrawal - video game withdrawal, that is. I am always bored, am always looking for something to do! So I go to my awesome cabinet and looked at all of my games. THERE IS NOTHING TO PLAY!

I was in the mood for something exciting and awesome and out of this world (not the game Out of This World: that game is creepy)! I could find nothing. I haven't played anything at all in the last two weeks of my life. Those weeks have been very very dark weeks. I get home from practice and I have nothing to do, so I actually do something productive! I miss spending hours playing games, trying to figure out where to go and the perfect strategy!

When I finally decided on a game that I wanted to play I couldn't even find it! It turns out that my sister took it with her when she moved! That was my game! Now I am sitting here writing this and am thoroughly depressed because I do not have anything exciting to say about my Nintendo adventures . . . I feel as if I have failed.

If you have any ideas of games I might be able to play, do tell! I own a Super NES, GameCube, PlayStation, DS, and Nintendo 64! Please help me!!

My first (and last) impressions of BIT.TRIP COMPLETE

I can't really say that I hated Bit.Trip Complete for Wii...okay, yes I can. I just didn't catch the drift, I guess. But seriously, take my opinion with a grain of salt, because I only played three of the six games. This is how it went:

I played a lot of Bit.Trip Beat, which has the player use motion to control a vertical paddle on the left side of the screen to deflect oncoming pixels. It was okay, but I just didn't ever connect with it. I like a game that you have to invest yourself in. Beat was challenging, yet it was almost like it was too simple or something. I found myself simply staring at the screen with a dazed expression on more than one occasion.

Next I gave Bit.Trip Core a shot. In it, the player controls a plus-shaped laser that can fire in four directions in order to shoot pixels coming in from all directions. I got a headache trying to follow what was going on, so my time with this one was quite short.

Finally I played Bit.Trip Runner. I thought this one would appeal to me the most, so I skipped I think two others to see if it would redeem the game in my eyes. It did to a certain extent. Runner has some great platforming gameplay. The fact that I got frustrated towards it was actually a good sign. It means I was invested. As fun as Runner was, however, it didn't make up for what I saw to be a lackluster experience otherwise.

Like I said, however, I didn't actually play all of the games in this collection. Give it a chance, and maybe you'll find this game suits you better than it suited me.

Mutant Mudds: First Impressions

A little game called Mutant Mudds is the eShop game of the week. I spent a good portion of the morning playing it, so let's dig into my first impressions!

Mutant Mudds is a seemingly simple platformer that actually offers more depth than meets the eye. I mean that quite literally in at least one way: the levels feature 3 layers of 3-D depth that the player will find himself changing amongst throughout the game. This turns into a brilliant way to show off the Nintendo 3DS system's stereoscopic 3-D. It's a great-looking game.

The gameplay is pretty slick as well. Our character can jump and hover for a few short moments, as well as wield a simple gun to take out the game's primary enemies: mud blobs. The game starts out relatively easy, but soon the difficulty ramps up, providing a very satisfying challenge.

If there's one problem I can already identify in this game, it's a very minor one: sometimes the screen doesn't show enough to prevent the player from getting a cheap hit to the face or taking a few blind jumps once in a while. As far as I can tell, however, this doesn't take much fun away from the game at all. It's just a blast to play.

Expect a full review soon!

The many game series I have little to no experience with: Part Two

Part two of my awesome montage! Thanks Lindsay!

In continuation of Monday's post, here are some more video game series that I have little to no experience with:

It seems relevant at this time to mention that I never did play through the first Luigi's Mansion game. Why is it relevant? I should think it's obvious! A second entry is headed to the Nintendo 3DS this year! I think I did play Luigi's Mansion a tiny bit once, many years ago. Well, I don't remember a dang thing about it! Therefore, I'm afraid I have little excitement about number two. Perhaps that will change someday soon!

In a similar vein, Kid Icarus was an NES game that never made it into the family collection, yet has a highly-anticipated return to glory slated for this year as well. I've never been tempted to get the original on Virtual Console because of its reported difficulty. A short fuse like me must take care in her video game choices!

You could call Mega Man another important series that I have missed out on, couldn't you? It's also another series that I don't know much about, despite all of the things I've read. So you control Mega Man? And you fight your way through a bunch of levels? And then you fight bosses and obtain their powers permanently? And...well, I got nothin' else. What I need to know is which title is a good entry point into the series *hint hint*.

Well, I've run out of time and room, but I'll leave you with a few other series that I haven't played: Contra, Ninja Gaiden, and Castlevania. And with that, this short blog series has come to an end! Have I listed some more that you believe I need to play as soon as humanly possible? Let's hear it!

The many game series I have little to no experience with: Part One

Awesome montage courtesy of my buddy Lindsay!

I was looking at my label distribution for this blog, and here are some interesting stats: "legend of zelda" has been attached to 49 posts, "gameboy" only 1, "super mario" a little better at 29, "sonic" only at 2.

This led me to the topic of today's post: that there are many great game series I have yet to play, or have played very little of. Final Fantasy is a great example. The "final fantasy" label belongs to only 2 posts, both of which are Mary's. I can't help but be bothered by the fact that Square Enix publishes most of today's Final Fantasy games on PlayStation, but that doesn't mean I should ignore the early titles on NES and SNES! Someday I'll play them for myself.

Next up we have the Dragon Quest series. I don't know much about this series, nor do I have a single post with it as a label (until now). Funnily enough, this is another big Square Enix series. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I imagine it's somewhat like Pokemon. Other than that...I got nothin'.

Professor Layton earns a spot on this post as well. I think I know the premise behind this series. The player steps into the role of Professor Layton, solving a variety of puzzles to unlock the story...or something like that. I've never had much of a desire to step into this series, so convince me otherwise, by all means.

F-Zero is the big Nintendo one I haven't really had a lot to do with. Well, I did attempt to play F-Zero: Maximum Velocity because it was one of the ten free GameBoy Advance games for Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors, but...I hated it, really. I know I didn't give it much of a chance, but there was nothing accessible about it for a newcomer like me.

Wow, I can still think of a lot more series, and this post is pretty packed already. It's settled then: this will have to be a two-parter! Look forward to part two this Wednesday!

Are there any game series on this list you think I should play ASAP? Let me know in the comments!

What are you playing this weekend?

 No, it's not Nintendo. We're not that strict here!

Weekends are great, especially for gamers who have things like school and work during the week. I'm planning on watching Hugo at the theater in the next town tonight. Tomorrow, however, I look forward to getting as much Okami, Kingdom Hearts II, The Legend of Zelda, Kirby's Adventure, Pushmo and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask in. Oh, and then there's the Mario Kart 7 Infendo community night at 7:00 PM US-Eastern time (that's 5:00 PM for me). What? You don't think I can do all of that? Yeah, you're probably right, unfortunately.

Anyone else feeling overwhelmed with games that are begging to be played this weekend? Anyone not feeling overwhelmed with games that are begging to be played this weekend? Well that's exactly what the comment box is for! Let us know!

What kind of a Zelda fan are YOU?

There are two kinds of Zelda fans in this world. Those who prefer the top-down, 2D style as epitomized in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past; and those who prefer the 3D style as brilliantly demonstrated in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Each style is vastly different from the other, and Zelda fans tend to be split on the subject. Top-down, 2D Zeldas are characterized by grid-like maps and fairly linear gameplay. 3D Zeldas, on the other hand, are characterized by wide open spaces and gameplay that takes advantage of the full 360 degrees of motion. I think the difference is quite clear, so let's get to the real question: which kind of Zelda style do YOU prefer? Let us know in the comments!

Me? It's an easy answer for me: 3D Zelda trumps top-down Zelda any day of the week. What are you going to do about it?

But seriously...leave a comment anyway. Defend your opinion!

Pure awesomeness

This song has to be my favorite! It just hypes me up to the point where I'm just messing around so I can listen to it longer! When I first went into Gerudo Valley I wanted to do everything I could to stay there longer. This score made me feel like a secret agent while sneaking around their camp. It was so much fun to get caught and then do everything all over - just because of this music! Do you have a favorite Zelda song? I do!

Why New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a can't-miss Wii title: A Review

I love having old material to resurrect on my blog, simultaneously saving me a little bit of time! Like this Samba de Amigo review before it, please enjoy this article I wrote for the March 10, 2010 issue of the Lariat, my old high school newspaper:

I am highly aware that many MHS students now own a Wii. So I no longer feel like I'm writing to myself when I review Wii games. For this review, I wish to write about one game that I consider a must-have for all Wii owners. This game is called New Super Mario Bros. Wii (NSMBW), which was developed by Nintendo and released for Wii on November 15, 2009.

NSMBW takes the structure of the oldest Mario games and adds new play options and power-ups, better graphics, and more. The player traverses a total of eight themed worlds, each with a collection of courses, which showcase an enormous variety of different plat-forming concepts. The variety increases as new power-ups are acquired, or even when more players join in. Yes, you heard me right. NSMBW takes the Mario series to the next level by adding a super-fun, multi-player option to the classic formula. Work co-operatively or competitively by jumping on each other's heads, picking each other up, and eating each other with Yoshi. Picking up a comrade can be the key to a secret area, but it can also be a way to throw a teammate into a lava pit or an enemy. The interaction among players is active and fun.

If there's one fault I can find in NSMBW, it's the difficulty of the game. Though I do not have much of a problem with this, I can see the possibility of frustration as some play through the game. Despite that, however, NSMBW is easily one of the best games I've ever played. Whether you want to have a good time with friends or tackle the game solo, NSMBW has you covered. If that doesn't convince you to get this game, think about this: how can you even go wrong with a new Mario game that simply resurrects and improves upon all the great game-play concepts that eventually defined Nintendo as the best game developer in the world?

Not my proudest achievement on any scale, but then you could also say that my whole senior year in high school wasn't a great achievement either. Eventually I'll probably follow this up with a decent review. Cheers!

Why The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will go down in, well, legend: A Review

Zelda.

The legend was born more than twenty-five years ago. In those twenty-five years, this groundbreaking series has perhaps brought more innovation to the industry than any other. The Nintendo 64 classic, Ocarina of Time, is often lauded as the best video game of all time, and is still revered today for its immense contributions to video games the world over.

Today I'm here to tell you that that bar has risen. Meet The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Exclusive to the Wii console, Skyward Sword has brought us one step closer to a utopia of gaming. How? With expertly implemented motion controls that draw the player into the game world like never before. After all, control is what sets video games apart from other media.

In Skyward Sword, one-to-one sword motion is possible thanks to the Wii MotionPlus accessory. And it works like a charm. I particularly like that it takes more than just a button-mashing fest to take on enemies: now combat is a puzzle in and of itself. The added motion capabilities also translate well to the use of items in the game. You'll find that one item in particular, the beetle, is used quite a bit in this game, due to its amazing capacity for clever puzzle-solving (not to mention the joy it is to control it).

Skyward Sword also goes a long way towards creating a simple, accessible interface. Many casual gamers are frightened away from "hardcore" games like Zelda because of the complex combination of buttons, etc. that are required to play. I believe Skyward Sword is the simplest Zelda yet in terms of control, and that's a huge step in the right direction if you ask me.

Much of what defines any given Zelda game is the world it creates. Skyward Sword has presented what I think is the best world yet in any Zelda game. It has a continuity that I think Twilight Princess lacked. There is meaning and purpose to every place you visit, and with every successive visit you make. Exploration (an important trait in any Zelda game) is at its best in Skyward Sword, with treasure and secrets to be found both above and below the clouds.

Skyward Sword's aesthetic is another source of the game's appeal. Whether the graphics are powerful or not is the wrong question to ask. They may not be technically powerful, but the creativity and imagination evident in them is what sets them apart and gives them a power that even the most realistic graphics can never achieve.

Nintendo has done it again with Skyward Sword. They make changing the face of the game industry look easy. My conclusion? Get this game. Period.

Why Mario Kart 7 is my favorite Nintendo 3DS game: A Review

Have you played a Mario Kart game before? Good! Then you already know everything there is to know about Mario Kart 7 gameplay and controls, and you can skip this next paragraph:

I gather you don't know much about Mario Kart 7, because you are now reading this paragraph. Well, here's the idea: the player takes to the race track as one of the many familiar (or unfamiliar) characters from the Mario universe on a kart (hence the title of the game). These aren't ordinary race tracks, however. Based upon locales from the Mario universe, they vary in zaniness about as much as the colorful cast does. With the madness of item use added to the mix, any Mario Kart experience is destined to be quite a fun time.

So what does Mario Kart 7 add to the tried-and-true formula? I'll give you the list from least to greatest: first, there are propellers that allow the karts to take the race underwater. It's a great feeling, but doesn't add a whole ton gameplay-wise. Second, gliders that allow certain periods of flight within races are activated at every blue jump pad. This adds a little bit of strategy and fun. Finally, MK 7 introduces a few online features that are new to the series. These are what I really want to emphasize. You've got your basic online races with players from around the globe. You've got the usual friend-to-friend mode. Then you've got the online communities. Setting up community nights with friends is a snap. Even more fun is the potential for joining racers from larger interest groups like blogs. You may already know that I'm talking specifically about the Infendo Mario Kart 7 community. This makes for virtually endless replay value.

But none of this would matter if Mario Kart 7 didn't play well. And, if you ask me, it plays better than any other racing game or even Mario Kart game out there. Infuriating blue shell encounters aside, this game nails gameplay and control. I simply can't get enough of it. Get a Nintendo 3DS, get connected to the internet, and get this game. 'Nuff said.

Endings to games

I, Mary, have finally finished my very first Legend of Zelda game! This is a huge accomplishment for me; this is because I have never beaten a Zelda game! Let me just say I'm happy that my first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time! Obviously I can't get over that I BEAT A ZELDA GAME! Sadly, I only beat this game with the help of two things: Ammon and YouTube. Pathetic I realize, but I will eventually try beating a game without the help of those two things; after all that's one of my New Years Resolutions right?

So I beat this game and I watch the ending. Nintendo totally swindled all of us of a truly good ending. Personally I sort of hated this ending; the reason for that is that it was exactly like the beginning. So *SPOILER ALERT* Link beats Ganon and gets sent back in time by Zelda. Link goes back and guess what? Nothing is going to change. Link fixed the future, but in the past he's still practically as weak as before. Ganondorf is still going to chase Zelda, she's still going to get taken by Impa, and everything is going to be exactly the same.

Think about it, how is changing the future going to change the past? Sure Link comes back with the Triforce of Courage, but doesn't that mean that there's two Triforces of Courage in his time and none in the Adult time? There are way too many questions to be answered. If anyone reading this can make any sense of the ending, please help me and all those who are also very confuzzled.

I guess it's also okay since there are more games to Zelda and it just goes ON and ON, still that should be no excuse!

*SPOILER FINISHED* Anyways I guess what I'm saying is that the ending to a video game is VERY IMPORTANT! If the ending isn't good then you feel as if that whole game was a total waste. If you feel it's a waste you won't play it again, you just wasted a bunch of money, and you'll tell other people not to buy it! If you ever want to make a game make sure that the ending totally rocks, or else there will be angry mobs at your front door.

The Pokemon series' lack of story...and why I admire that

Zekrom's got a pretty mean AR attack. I feared for my life.

Role-playing games. RPGs. Whatever you want to call them. What are they? Why, they're games in which the player controls a party of characters that level up, collect items, earn currency, upgrade gear, and fight battles. Yes, the Pokemon games are classified as RPGs. Did I forget to mention one thing RPGs are known for? Ah, yes: story.

In this here post, you can find out what my stance is on stories in video games. In short, I appreciate story, but not at the expense of great gameplay. Going off of that, I think many video games out there rely too heavily on some complex plot, sacrificing fun or meaningful gameplay in the process. I'm not gonna lie: the Pokemon games tend to have very weak plots. In a genre that places an emphasis on story, that is a pretty bold design choice. But in so doing, the Pokemon games show us gamers that it's not about the destination: it's about the journey. Play one today...I really like Diamond version for the Nintendo DS.

A StreetPass tag turned pen pal

How about a friendly game of Mario Kart 7?

It only takes one willing friend to make the free Nintendo 3DS application Swapnote fun. Just ask my new Swapnote pen pal, SKY. Our favorite past time is playing against each other in Mario Kart 7, so a lot of our Swapnote exchanges are us trash talking each other (he's better than me, by the way).

But this is not a story about Mario Kart 7. It's not even a story about Swapnote. It's a story about how the StreetPass function of the Nintendo 3DS system brought two gamers together for not-so-friendly competition and general conversation.

This is how we look after most races.

We tagged each other several months ago (in the waiting room of the orthodontist, apparently), and I didn't think twice about it until SKY himself discovered my online exploits and recognized the correlation between a StreetPass tag and the blogger whose post you are currently reading. Long story short, SKY and I are now N3DS pals who play Mario Kart 7 together and Swapnote back and forth about various Nintendo topics.

And, like I said, SKY is a very good kart racer. After allowing my head to inflate to about twice its normal size from kicking butt in the Infendo community, he came with needle ready. Online records report that we are even at 6-6 after several races and a few battles. I savor the challenge: it pushes me to be better! Here's to even more fun in the future!

Looking ahead: Nintendo's 2012

Games
When thinking about the games coming out this year for Wii, one title and one title only comes to my mind: Rhythm Heaven Fever. Out February 13 (yeah, I was quite wrong before), it's sure to assist with the Wii console's final struggle as the world makes way for Wii U. And at a mere $29.99, this is one game I won't be missing out on!

The future of the Nintendo 3DS system is another story. 2011 saw the portable gaming device gathering steam that shows no signs of stopping in 2012. RPG fans should get excited about Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance and Tales of the Abyss. Roller Coaster Tycoon 3D could prove to be a decent little port of the PC series. Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure will likely jump in from nowhere to steal gamers' hearts. Oh, and there's always the growing list of what are sure to be hard-hitters: Luigi's Mansion 2, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Animal Crossing (name not final), Paper Mario (name not final), Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, and Resident Evil: Revelations.

What I'll Be Playing
At this very moment, I have an infinitely long list of games, old and new, to play. I beat Super Mario Bros., so I would like to move on to Super Mario Bros. 3 (I'm not brave enough for number 2). I received the well-reviewed Okami (Wii remake) for Christmas, and it's simply calling out to me. I'm not sure if I'll ever manage to get away from Mario Kart 7 long enough to take the cartridge out of my 3DS. The downloadable Pushmo is a strong contender in the fight for my time. Oh, and there's those ten GameBoy Advance games I downloaded for free recently. I'm actually working on another entry into my Metroid series with Metroid II: Return of Samus...if I can find time to play it. Kirby's Adventure for the NES rounds out the formidable list. Wish me luck!

What will you be playing or looking forward to in the year 2012?

New Years Resolution

Whereas most people have a resolutions list for their life (as in, how to make it better), I have come up with a Nintendo New Years Resolution list! Here it is:

1. Beat Ocarina of Time
2. Play at least one game of NCAA
3. Play all of the games in my SNES collection
4. (This one isn't my proudest) Beat an RPG without cheats OF ANY KIND! (Little brothers included)
5. Beat all video game RPGs that I've started, gotten really far in, and stopped playing BECAUSE IT'S TOO STINKING HARD!!

Yes these are all of my resolutions. I will try very very hard to at least do half of them! (Yes I realize there are five of them, which means I'll do one halfway through . . .) Wish me luck! I wish luck to all of you who are also brave enough to come up with a resolution list and stick to it, be it Nintendo related or not!

2012 Nintendo Lifeline Awards: Winners

Despite a lot of rough spots, 2011 was a great year in the world of Nintendo. The Nintendo 3DS system may have had an uneasy launch, but by the end of the year, it became a great little gaming system with a growing library of instant classics like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. And dare I forget to mention that 2011 was the 25th anniversary of gaming's best-known adventure series, The Legend of Zelda? Fans enjoyed game releases, epic music, and more in celebration of this industry-shaping series.

And, as I promised, the Nintendo Lifeline wants to take a look at some of the best things Nintendo games had going for them during the year. Drumroll, please. These are our winners!

Best Overall Game
Nominees: Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Mario Kart 7, Wii Play Motion, Star Fox 64 3D, Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, and Lost In Shadow

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Stunning graphics, compelling motion controls, polished gameplay, breathtaking design...Skyward Sword had everything going for it. Nintendo has this game making business down, don't they?

Best Overall Graphics
Nominees: Super Mario 3D Land, Star Fox 64 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Steel Diver, and Lost In Shadow

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

It was hard for me to play games with any kind of graphics other than colorful or whimsical ones after playing Skyward Sword. Nintendo has the best graphics out there purely because they work with limitations in ingenious ways.

Best Get-up
Nominees: Tanooki Mario, Ghirahim, Metal Mario, and Kirby Hat

Winner: Tanooki Mario

Why? It's functional and fashionable! And nostalgic. And it works well in the game. You know.

Best Method of Travel
Nominees: Loftwing, Tanooki Tail, Cannon, Propeller Block, By Shadow, Submarine, Arwing, Horse, Hang Glider, and Customizable Kart

Winner: Customizable Kart

I really enjoyed coming up with the nominees in this category. I did not enjoy choosing just one. But I chose the customizable kart from Mario Kart 7 for a couple of good reasons: first, driving in your customized kart makes up the bulk of the game. Second, collecting coins on the tracks in order to unlock new parts is pretty compelling. And third, it's a fun challenge to customize just right for optimal kart performance that plays on your strengths and that looks good too. Oh yeah!

Best Use of Stereoscopic 3D
Nominees: Super Mario 3D Land, Steel Diver, Nintendogs+cats, and Pilotwings Resort

Winner: Super Mario 3D Land

You know, when I think about it, the odd-sounding title of this game makes a lot of sense. It really is a land of 3D. Er...a 3D land. Anyway, the 3D does become an important aspect in this game.